Why would someone get cervical cancer?

Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
Updated on September 30, 2024
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Why does cervical cancer occur? There are several reasons for cervical cancer: The first is infection with the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV infection, which is the fundamental cause of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. Secondly, there are other factors; in a few cases, HPV DNA is not detected in the tumor tissue, especially among elderly patients, and it is related to early childbirth and multiple pregnancies. The third point is that cervical cancer incidence is associated with high-risk males, including those who have had penile cancer, prostate cancer, or are high-risk individuals for cervical cancer. Women who are in contact with these high-risk men are more likely to develop cervical cancer. Lastly, irregular diet and lifestyle, along with smoking and drinking, can suppress the body's immune function, potentially promoting cancer.

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Oncology
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How is cervical cancer treated?

Cervical cancer is one of the malignant gynecological tumors. The treatment approach should be based on a comprehensive assessment of the disease stage, the hospital's facilities, and the patient's condition, among other factors, to develop an integrated treatment plan. The principle of cervical cancer treatment primarily involves surgery and radiotherapy, supplemented by chemotherapy as an integrated treatment plan. The treatment should consider clinical staging, age, general condition, and the overall level of technology and equipment to develop an appropriate treatment method. It is important to focus on personalized treatment and the initial treatment.

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Staging of cervical cancer

The clinical staging of cervical cancer mainly uses the FIGO system, which adopts the staging criteria of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). Staging should be performed before treatment, and once done it does not change after treatment. Since FIGO staging of cervical cancer primarily relies on pelvic examination, it emphasizes the necessity of this examination being conducted by two experienced gynecologic oncologists. If needed, a pelvic examination under anesthesia is performed to ensure the accuracy of the evaluation. So, how is the staging performed? It involves measuring the size of the cervical lesion, particularly the measurement of endophytic tumors, the infiltration of cervical tissue, and the status of pelvic lymph nodes, providing accurate information with the aid of radiological data, especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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Causes of cervical cancer

The causes of cervical cancer are particularly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The primary causes that can lead to precancerous lesions and cervical cancer itself, in a minority of cases, do not detect HPV DNA, especially in older patients. Epidemiological studies show that early childbirth and multiple childbirths are highly related to the incidence of cervical cancer; as the number of childbirths increases, the risk of cervical cancer also increases. Smoking can suppress the body's immune function and may promote cancer development. Men who have had penile cancer, prostate cancer, or previous cervical cancer are at high risk; therefore, women who have contact with high-risk men are also more susceptible to cervical cancer.

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Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How is cervical cancer checked?

Cervical cancer screening begins with testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV) and a cervical cytology smear test. If abnormalities are found in these tests, a colposcopy examination is needed. Under colposcopy, suspicious cancerous areas are selected for a cervical biopsy, and the cervical tissue is sent for pathological sections. Based on the results of the pathology sections, it is determined whether the condition is a precancerous lesion of the cervix or cervical cancer. If cervical cancer is present, a clinical doctor must perform a gynecological internal examination to determine the stage of the cervical cancer, and then choose a treatment plan.

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Written by Xu Xiao Ming
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is cervical hypertrophy cervical cancer?

Cervical hypertrophy is not cervical cancer. Cervical hypertrophy is merely a change in the shape and size of the cervix, which becomes larger than normal, and its shape might be somewhat larger than a normal cervix. It is just a morphological change. Cervical cancer, on the other hand, is caused by an HPV virus infection. It is a type of tumor and is different from mere enlargement; one is cancer, and the other is just an increase in size. Therefore, it is recommended that patients who experience irregular vaginal bleeding after intercourse, as well as those who have irregular bleeding normally, should undergo screening for cervical cancer, including tests for HPV and TCT.